Stamp-protector.



,s. W. SHE'PARD. STAMP PROTECTOR.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 2. I916.

Patented. Apr. 30, 1918.

PIE-l.

SETH,W. SHEPARD. 0F LEOMINSTER, MASSACHUSETTS.

STAMP-PROTECTOR.

Patented Apr. 30, 1918.

Application filed October 2, 1916. Serial No. 123,328.

Be it known that I, SETH W. SHEPARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Leominster, in the county of Worcester, State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Protectors; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to stamp containing and protecting devices.

The object of the invention is to provide a protective container for stamps which is adapted to be used in various connections. It is a well known practice to inclose stamps in letters for return postage or in payment for small sums. If placed in the envelop loosely, these stamps frequently become lost. If the frequent practice of moistening a, corner of the stamp and sticking them to the lettersin which they are contained is followed, the stamps are frequently injured, and it is difficult in this manner to secure a number of the stamps.

The improved device of my invention provides a container which will receive one or a plurality of stamps with equal facility, and will protectively hold them upon the letter.

Philatelists, also, find use for protective containers for stamps, both in their collection albums and in the shipment of stamps. My improved device will also meet this demand in a complete and economical manner.

In carrying out the invention, I provide a blank of paper or other suitable material so shaped and folded as to provide a container from which the stamps will not escape under ordinary conditions and when the letter is folded thereover, cannot escape, it being unnecessary to moisten the stamps or to do more than to insert them under the folds of the letter.

With the above objects in view and such other objects as may hereinafter a pear, my invention will now be fully set orth and described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

7 In the drawings Figure 1 is a plan of a section of a letter head showing my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a view of the blank from which the device is folded, and

Fig. 3 is, a section through the device showing stamps contained therein.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 indicates a section of the letter head having the container 2 mounted thereon,

having such position that it will not come upon the folds of the letter. The container 2 is formed from the blank shown in Fig. 2 having the body 3 and the flaps 4 which are adapted to be folded inwardly upon the scorings or lines 5. The corners of the rectangular body are cut diagonally across so that the ends of the folds or flaps 4 will not interfere with one another when folded inwardly upon the body 3. As shown in Figs. 1 and 3, when the device is folded the flaps 4 stand inwardly, having a tendency to incline inwardly toward the middle of the body, so that a receptacle is formed into which the stamps may be placed. The de vice is made of such size that a number of stamps as in a strip may be folded together and placed within the receptacle to be held down by the flaps 4. When the letter is folded and the flaps 4 are held down by the folds of the letter, it is obviously impossible for the stamps to escape and to shake about in the letter. The blank may be formed from gummed paper so that the lower face of the body 3 is suitably conditioned to be stuck to the letter, and the outer sides of the flaps will also appear gummed so that a fastening strip may be secured thereacross when the stamps are placed in the device, or merely the lower face of the container may be gummed so as to provide just suflicient gum to stick the body 3 upon the letter. The device is a simple one which obviously may be manufactured in large numbers at a very small cost, and may be supplied in a variety of sizes so as to be adapted, not only for containing stamps, but also for containing cards or other paper board articles.

What I claim is: The combination With a letter sheet, of a 5 rectangular blank formed of gjim-nned paper,

the gummed faceof'the blank being lowermost to stick it upon the letter sheet, and marginal flaps turnedinwardly from all of the several edges of the blank and shaped 10 to lie free of one another, said flaps forming retainers for stamps, Whose edges are loosely engaged between the body of the blank and said flaps.

, In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature, in the presence of two Witnesses.

SETH W. SHEPARD.

Witnesses:

EMMA L. SHEPARD, LILLIAN G. BARRON.

coptelof-this patentmny be: obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 0! Patents, Washington, D. O. 

